A Good Story Here

A Good Story Here

by Jamin Christian Baldwin

 

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he”

(Proverbs 29:18, KJV).

 

I had no idea what to write.

A writing slump enveloped me. I struggled for days trying to find inspiration for a new project. All my current endeavors fizzled as I waited for the next big idea to hit me like a sledgehammer.

A visit from my sister prompted a trip down memory lane. We dug out old family albums and went through them one at a time. I stumbled across a manila envelope of pictures my great uncle had given to me before his passing, nearly two years ago.

He had always been my biggest fan. When I was a child, he encouraged my writing and fawned over my poetry with genuine admiration, rekindling the flames that discouragement had smothered.

I leafed through the photos and stopped when I came to one of a beautiful, golden-haired bride.

Gloria.

Curious, I turned it over and saw his distinctive scrawl on the back.

There’s a good story, here. -Jack

My uncle had told me of this girl many times and had even tried to arrange a meeting for us to get together, but his unexpected passing had halted the process.

As I stared at those six words, I could feel him blowing life back into me. I began making a plan to meet this exceptional woman.

The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18, KJV).

God designed and created us with a purpose in mind. Without a vision or a goal to strive for, we can find ourselves feeling as though we are wasting away.

Waiting.

Looking for God’s plan in the monumental when maybe we should be looking in the minute.

The flint you need to spark your vision to life might not rest in something so paramount that you feel you were struck by a lightning bolt of genius. Perhaps, your inspiration will come like the whisper of a breeze, Or, like me, in the note left on the back of a photograph, by a loved one.

 

God, as you guide us in our endeavors, let our hearts be open to your gentle whisper. May we see your hand as you write on the little things in our lives,  and may we listen with our hearts to hear your still small voice when you say, “There’s a good story, here.” Amen.

 

 

Author Jamin Christian Baldwin is an award-winning devotion writer from Southeastern Ohio. Her devotions have been featured on christiandevotions.us, as well as many blogs, as a guest author. She is an active member of the ACFW-Ohio chapter. She enjoys mixing photography and poetry, which she shares on Instagram @: www.instagram.com/jaminchristianbaldwin
Her personal devotions can be found @: www.facebook.com/jaminchristianbaldwin